John Lewis, Charlie Rangel and other lawmakers arrested during immigration protest

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Eight Democratic lawmakers were arrested Tuesday while advocating for comprehensive immigration reform in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Democratic Reps. John Lewis of Georgia, Luis Gutierrez of Illinois, Charlie Rangel of New York, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Joe Crowley of New York, Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Al Green of Texas were all detained by Capitol Police. The politicians, along with activists who attended an immigration rally on the National Mall Tuesday afternoon, staged a sit-in near the west side of the Capitol.

Authorities arrested the lawmakers for crowding and disrupting the streets around the Capitol. Police arrested almost 200 people during the protest.

“We cannot rest, we cannot be satisfied until we have comprehensive immigration reform,” Lewis told reporters earlier in the day.

The arrest was Lewis’ 45th, according to his twitter account. The civil rights advocate has been known to participate in sit-ins and protests throughout his many years in Congress.

“My colleagues and I are not afraid to get arrested for what we believe is important to move America forward,” Rangel tweeted.

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